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Honest horror reviews of films, series, games and books — no hype, no spoilers, just whether it is worth your time and your nerves.

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Horror Fuel

Blu-ray Review: Relic (2020)

Ol’ Edna (Robyn Nevin) mafes like a banana and splits, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) arrive at her remote rural home and begin piecing together that Edna’s dementia has increased a thousandfold. Edna soon reappears, but has no idea of where she has been (or isn’t allowed to say) which bothers Kay six ways to Sunday, even though Sam is over the moon to have her nana back safe and sound. Of course this is a fright flick, and Edna soon becomes all fired up which leads Kay and Sam to believe there may be a strange presence behind her actions (and the strange sounds and dreams they experience just add fuel to that fire)! Just to get the elephant in the room out of the way; Relic does that thing I can’t stand; namely leaving us to guess if what is happening is supernatural in origin, or the results of Edna’s condition (until it

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Comic Book Review: Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman 

Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman; if that title doesn’t grab ya by the short n’ curlies I have no idea what will! Merrick’s creative team, consisting of writer Tom Ward and illustrator Luke Parker have taken some cherry picked elements from the life of the real Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man with tumor like growths covering his body who became something of a celebrity in the Victorian Age (and who’s life was the basis of David Lynch’s 1980 masterpiece, The Elephant Man) and swirled them around, amplified them, and mixed them with all manner of occult-laden goings-on and Masonic cult deviltry. This is a heady concoction indeed cats n’ creeps and when you take those concepts and slap some gorgeously rendered, chiaroscuro-infused arcane art on top of them, reminiscent of the works of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola in his prime no less, and you have one hell of a treat for the eerie eyeballs let me tell ya! I can’t

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales (2020)

Fucked up mother fucker Brandon delivers a nihilistic comedy performance/stage play/ ventriloquist act that serves as the framework for nine terror tales in the new arcane anthology Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales… and what a creepy collection those yarns comprise my boils n’ ghouls! First up we get the story of a phoney exorcism broadcast across the web much to the delight of the viewing audience who believe what they are seeing is real. Of course it actually does become all too real as a demonic presence is indeed present. Filled with excellent cinematography, some solid tension, and a fun premise this tale is a great way to kick of this putrid picture… plus there are some great twists here as well! Next comes a fantastic stalk n’ slay piece with one of the coolest looking killers I’ve seen in a damn sight, followed by a downright sweet tale of a blood n’ guts zombie buffet turning to undead

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Playhouse (2020)

A horror writin’ dude named Jack (William Holstead) ignores all common sense and moves into ye olde secluded Scottish castle with his daughter Bee (Grace Courtney) in tow. The reason for the new digs? Why he wants to stage some insanely scopey immersive play within that arcane abode as one does. Of course that creepy castle is home to a supernatural presence that wants nothing more than to fuck up our heroes’ lives six ways to Sunday Not a bad set-up for a ghost-centric yarn, eh cats n’ creeps? Written and directed by Fionn and Toby Watts, Playhouse has a lot going for it in terms of mythology and world building, but it does have some stumbling blocks along it’s joltin’ journey. While the castle setting is tops, and the acting pretty damn solid, there are a bit too many side stories and characters that take the focus away from Jack and Bee’s terror tale… and dammit, the other characters’

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
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Horror Fuel

Movie Review: They Reach (2020)

At the ass-end of the swingin’ Sixties; parapsychologists Dr. Mark Quinnley (Damian Vines) and his son Alex (Taylor Bartle) botch a job involving a demon-touched lad, but the entire fracas is recorded on a tape recorder. Flash the fuck forward to 1979 as we meet John (Ash Calder) and Grace (Elizabeth Rhoades); a married couple who have lost their son… hey, at least they got another kiddo boppin’ about; namely their teen daughter Jessica (Mary Madaline Roe). Speaking of J-dawg; she happens to find that recorder mentioned up yonder in a second-hand store and goes right ahead and accidentally spills blood all over it. Rookie move noob… Of course demonic hijinks ensue, and it’s up to Jessica and her friends to put an end to this horrifying hootenanny right quick! Make no mistake; They Reach is young adult thrills and chills through and through, so you can bet your arcane asses that there is a real Stranger Things/Monster Squad vibe

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘Kindred’

According to many sources, one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life is while she’s pregnant. The movie Kindred reinforces that theory in a dark and disturbing way that will leave any mother bothered. In the movie, Ben (Edward Holcroft) and his girlfriend Charlotte (Tamara Lawrance) break the news to his mother (Fiona Shaw) that they are movie to Australia, but this overbearing, demanding woman isn’t having it. When her son is killed right after finding out he’s going to be a father, she decides that she will do anything to keep her grandchild close, and I mean anything. When Charlotte wakes up after fainting at the hospital she discovers she’s now a prisoner in the manor where nine generations of Ben’s family have called home. Both Lawrance and Shaw play their parts well, I think for what they were given. But their characters lack impact and I don’t think that’s all their fault. It comes across like

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 5, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Arrow Video FrightFest October Edition): Cyst

Imagine classic science fiction creature features of the past such as Fiend Without a Face mashed up with modern gross-out comedy gags and you are on the right track toward describing Cyst, a loving tribute to the black-and-white creature feature classics and clas-sicks of the 1950s and 1960s with a garish coat of cinematic color. With Cyst set sometime in those aforementioned decades, Eva Habermann stars as Patricia, a put-upon nurse in a medical clinic who serves notice of her intention to quit when physician in charge Dr. Guy (George Hardy of Troll 2) tells her that patent officials are due any minute to have another look at Get Gone, his laser invention meant to be a pain-free way of removing cysts. Patricia still bears the scars from one of his earlier attempts with the device, and she wants nothing more to do with it — though she must serve out the rest of the workday. Naturally, the machine doesn’t

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 4, 2020
Horror Fuel

Blu-Ray Review: Antebellum Is Both Horrific And Moving

WARNING SOME SPOILERS! The writing and producing duo Gerard Bush + Christopher Renz make their feature directorial debut with Antebellum. In the beginning, we are introduced to Veronica, a strong-willed, well-spoken, educated author, and speaker who talks about racism and patriarchy. Played by Janelle Monáe, Veronica is kidnapped and wakes up on a Southern slave plantation in what seems to the past with a new name, Eden, given to her by her captors. She seems broken and reserved to her fate, but she hasn’t completely given up yet. When a death occurs she finds renewed strength. Eric Lange (TV’s “Narcos,” “Lost”), Jena Malone (Contact, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Jack Huston (Kill Your Darlings, American Hustle), Kiersey Clemons (Sweetheart, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, TV’s “Empire”), also star. This is not your everyday horror movie. There are no supernatural monsters jumping out to scare you, it’s much worse, the film reveals that the real monsters are all

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 3, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Darkness in Tenement 45 (2020)

In an alternate-reality version of the 1950’s, The Soviet army has invaded New York and released some undefined biological threat, and a small group of citizens laying low in their small tenement building until it all blows over. Except it doesn’t; rather troubled teen Joanna has come down with a case of “The Darkness”, and what lies within is as dangerous as the threat outside of the building’s walls. Treading the same ground as the films of horror maestro/social commentator George A. romero we get a rather diverse cast, holed up in a close quarters while the world falls to absolute shit around them… and while we definitely get a strong dose of the ol’ horror biz, this flick has a few other things on it’s mind as we delve into isolation, mental health, misogyny and more which takes things in a more realistic and dark direction. This is not a satire, rather a condemnation of various social mores. Thankfully

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 2, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘The Dark And The Wicked’ From The Filmmaker That Brought Us ‘The Strangers’

The Dark and the Wicked is set on a rural farm and centers on an adult brother and sister come to visit their sick father only to realize that something is wrong with their mother as well. It’s slow out of the gate but picks up speed, turning from a dark family drama into a holy hell, someone call a priest supernatural thriller that’s well-paced and spooky in all the right places. The movie builds real tension and suspense with scares that hit you like a linebacker out of nowhere. You are drawn into the intense story of the sister and brother and what they are experiencing within their family and forget for a moment that it’s a horror movie. But when the horror hits though, it hits hard. The cast including Marin Ireland and Michael Abbott Jr. is fantastic. Ireland really made you feel for her character Louise. The actress’ ability to ugly cry on cue is amazing. I

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 2, 2020

More from Reviews

Horror Fuel

Blu-ray Review: Relic (2020)

Ol’ Edna (Robyn Nevin) mafes like a banana and splits, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) arrive at her remote rural home and begin piecing together that Edna’s dementia has increased a thousandfold. Edna soon reappears, but has no idea of where she has been (or isn’t allowed to say) which bothers Kay six ways to Sunday, even though Sam is over the moon to have her nana back safe and sound. Of course this is a fright flick, and Edna soon becomes all fired up which leads Kay and Sam to believe there may be a strange presence behind her actions (and the strange sounds and dreams they experience just add fuel to that fire)! Just to get the elephant in the room out of the way; Relic does that thing I can’t stand; namely leaving us to guess if what is happening is supernatural in origin, or the results of Edna’s condition (until it

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Comic Book Review: Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman 

Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman; if that title doesn’t grab ya by the short n’ curlies I have no idea what will! Merrick’s creative team, consisting of writer Tom Ward and illustrator Luke Parker have taken some cherry picked elements from the life of the real Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man with tumor like growths covering his body who became something of a celebrity in the Victorian Age (and who’s life was the basis of David Lynch’s 1980 masterpiece, The Elephant Man) and swirled them around, amplified them, and mixed them with all manner of occult-laden goings-on and Masonic cult deviltry. This is a heady concoction indeed cats n’ creeps and when you take those concepts and slap some gorgeously rendered, chiaroscuro-infused arcane art on top of them, reminiscent of the works of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola in his prime no less, and you have one hell of a treat for the eerie eyeballs let me tell ya! I can’t

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales (2020)

Fucked up mother fucker Brandon delivers a nihilistic comedy performance/stage play/ ventriloquist act that serves as the framework for nine terror tales in the new arcane anthology Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales… and what a creepy collection those yarns comprise my boils n’ ghouls! First up we get the story of a phoney exorcism broadcast across the web much to the delight of the viewing audience who believe what they are seeing is real. Of course it actually does become all too real as a demonic presence is indeed present. Filled with excellent cinematography, some solid tension, and a fun premise this tale is a great way to kick of this putrid picture… plus there are some great twists here as well! Next comes a fantastic stalk n’ slay piece with one of the coolest looking killers I’ve seen in a damn sight, followed by a downright sweet tale of a blood n’ guts zombie buffet turning to undead

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Playhouse (2020)

A horror writin’ dude named Jack (William Holstead) ignores all common sense and moves into ye olde secluded Scottish castle with his daughter Bee (Grace Courtney) in tow. The reason for the new digs? Why he wants to stage some insanely scopey immersive play within that arcane abode as one does. Of course that creepy castle is home to a supernatural presence that wants nothing more than to fuck up our heroes’ lives six ways to Sunday Not a bad set-up for a ghost-centric yarn, eh cats n’ creeps? Written and directed by Fionn and Toby Watts, Playhouse has a lot going for it in terms of mythology and world building, but it does have some stumbling blocks along it’s joltin’ journey. While the castle setting is tops, and the acting pretty damn solid, there are a bit too many side stories and characters that take the focus away from Jack and Bee’s terror tale… and dammit, the other characters’

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: They Reach (2020)

At the ass-end of the swingin’ Sixties; parapsychologists Dr. Mark Quinnley (Damian Vines) and his son Alex (Taylor Bartle) botch a job involving a demon-touched lad, but the entire fracas is recorded on a tape recorder. Flash the fuck forward to 1979 as we meet John (Ash Calder) and Grace (Elizabeth Rhoades); a married couple who have lost their son… hey, at least they got another kiddo boppin’ about; namely their teen daughter Jessica (Mary Madaline Roe). Speaking of J-dawg; she happens to find that recorder mentioned up yonder in a second-hand store and goes right ahead and accidentally spills blood all over it. Rookie move noob… Of course demonic hijinks ensue, and it’s up to Jessica and her friends to put an end to this horrifying hootenanny right quick! Make no mistake; They Reach is young adult thrills and chills through and through, so you can bet your arcane asses that there is a real Stranger Things/Monster Squad vibe

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘Kindred’

According to many sources, one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life is while she’s pregnant. The movie Kindred reinforces that theory in a dark and disturbing way that will leave any mother bothered. In the movie, Ben (Edward Holcroft) and his girlfriend Charlotte (Tamara Lawrance) break the news to his mother (Fiona Shaw) that they are movie to Australia, but this overbearing, demanding woman isn’t having it. When her son is killed right after finding out he’s going to be a father, she decides that she will do anything to keep her grandchild close, and I mean anything. When Charlotte wakes up after fainting at the hospital she discovers she’s now a prisoner in the manor where nine generations of Ben’s family have called home. Both Lawrance and Shaw play their parts well, I think for what they were given. But their characters lack impact and I don’t think that’s all their fault. It comes across like

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 5, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Arrow Video FrightFest October Edition): Cyst

Imagine classic science fiction creature features of the past such as Fiend Without a Face mashed up with modern gross-out comedy gags and you are on the right track toward describing Cyst, a loving tribute to the black-and-white creature feature classics and clas-sicks of the 1950s and 1960s with a garish coat of cinematic color. With Cyst set sometime in those aforementioned decades, Eva Habermann stars as Patricia, a put-upon nurse in a medical clinic who serves notice of her intention to quit when physician in charge Dr. Guy (George Hardy of Troll 2) tells her that patent officials are due any minute to have another look at Get Gone, his laser invention meant to be a pain-free way of removing cysts. Patricia still bears the scars from one of his earlier attempts with the device, and she wants nothing more to do with it — though she must serve out the rest of the workday. Naturally, the machine doesn’t

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 4, 2020
Horror Fuel

Blu-Ray Review: Antebellum Is Both Horrific And Moving

WARNING SOME SPOILERS! The writing and producing duo Gerard Bush + Christopher Renz make their feature directorial debut with Antebellum. In the beginning, we are introduced to Veronica, a strong-willed, well-spoken, educated author, and speaker who talks about racism and patriarchy. Played by Janelle Monáe, Veronica is kidnapped and wakes up on a Southern slave plantation in what seems to the past with a new name, Eden, given to her by her captors. She seems broken and reserved to her fate, but she hasn’t completely given up yet. When a death occurs she finds renewed strength. Eric Lange (TV’s “Narcos,” “Lost”), Jena Malone (Contact, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Jack Huston (Kill Your Darlings, American Hustle), Kiersey Clemons (Sweetheart, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, TV’s “Empire”), also star. This is not your everyday horror movie. There are no supernatural monsters jumping out to scare you, it’s much worse, the film reveals that the real monsters are all

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 3, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Darkness in Tenement 45 (2020)

In an alternate-reality version of the 1950’s, The Soviet army has invaded New York and released some undefined biological threat, and a small group of citizens laying low in their small tenement building until it all blows over. Except it doesn’t; rather troubled teen Joanna has come down with a case of “The Darkness”, and what lies within is as dangerous as the threat outside of the building’s walls. Treading the same ground as the films of horror maestro/social commentator George A. romero we get a rather diverse cast, holed up in a close quarters while the world falls to absolute shit around them… and while we definitely get a strong dose of the ol’ horror biz, this flick has a few other things on it’s mind as we delve into isolation, mental health, misogyny and more which takes things in a more realistic and dark direction. This is not a satire, rather a condemnation of various social mores. Thankfully

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 2, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘The Dark And The Wicked’ From The Filmmaker That Brought Us ‘The Strangers’

The Dark and the Wicked is set on a rural farm and centers on an adult brother and sister come to visit their sick father only to realize that something is wrong with their mother as well. It’s slow out of the gate but picks up speed, turning from a dark family drama into a holy hell, someone call a priest supernatural thriller that’s well-paced and spooky in all the right places. The movie builds real tension and suspense with scares that hit you like a linebacker out of nowhere. You are drawn into the intense story of the sister and brother and what they are experiencing within their family and forget for a moment that it’s a horror movie. But when the horror hits though, it hits hard. The cast including Marin Ireland and Michael Abbott Jr. is fantastic. Ireland really made you feel for her character Louise. The actress’ ability to ugly cry on cue is amazing. I

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 2, 2020
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